Apple has acquired Silicon Color, maker of the FinalTouch colour correction applications, for an undisclosed sum. 

Silicon Color disclosed the transaction in a message on its website. The company did not provide any additional information other than that Apple will honour all existing maintenance contracts.

FinalTouch targets professionals in the movie and television industries. The colour finishing tool allows for real-time manipulation of digital materials.

Silicon Color's FinalTouch HD currently supports Apple's Final Cut Pro movie editing application.

Apple has a strong following in the graphics industry. The company last year unveiled its Aperture post production tool for photographers, allowing them to organise and manipulate images in the Raw file format.

Critics have suggested that the success of Apple's iPod puts the company at risk of losing touch with its user base in the graphics industry. The Silicon Color acquisition signals a continuing commitment to the segment.